Udang Rendang (Prawn Rendang)
Juicy king prawns in a short-cooked rendang sauce with lime, ready in half an hour for a special-feeling midweek meal.
Made with Rendang paste. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time30 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £3.38 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Cook the rice following the packet, then keep covered. Pat the prawns dry with kitchen paper.
- 2
Heat the oil in a wide pan over a medium heat. Fry your ready made rendang paste (see the base recipe) for 2 minutes, stirring.
- 3
Add the coconut milk, lime leaves and lemongrass. Simmer for 8 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
8 min - 4
Add the broccoli and cook for 3 minutes, then add the prawns. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, turning once, until they are pink all the way through and curled.
7 min - 5
Stir in the lime juice and zest. Taste and add a pinch of salt. Remove the lemongrass and lime leaves.
- 6
Serve over the rice, scattered with coriander.
Tips
- Do not cook the prawns longer than 4 minutes or they turn rubbery. They are done when pink all through and just curled.
- Defrost frozen prawns fully in the fridge overnight and pat them very dry before cooking.
- Keep the sauce slightly looser than a beef rendang, since there is no long reduction here.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten straight away. Leftovers keep 1 day in the fridge once cooled within 1 hour and should be reheated until steaming hot all the way through. Do not freeze cooked prawns in sauce.
Questions
Can I use cooked prawns?
Yes, but add them for the last 2 minutes only, just to heat through. Cooked prawns toughen quickly if simmered, so keep the sauce hot but off a hard boil.
Is this safe for people with shellfish allergy?
No. It contains prawns. The rendang paste itself has no shrimp paste, so you can use the same sauce with chicken or tofu if shellfish must be avoided.
What goes well with prawn rendang?
Steamed jasmine rice, a crunchy cucumber salad or pickled red onions. A squeeze of extra lime at the table lifts the whole dish.
More made with rendang paste
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.